The energy exploration licenses for blocks 2, 3, and 9 within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have officially expired and will not be renewed, following disappointing results from recent surveys, confirmed George Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Trade, and Industry.
This move signals the exit of South Korea’s state-owned Kogas, which held a 20% stake in these blocks. Following the expiry of the licenses, Italy’s Eni—leading the exploration consortium—retains rights to four blocks (6, 7, 8, and 11) in the Cypriot EEZ, in partnership with France’s Total. This is a reduction from the seven blocks they previously held.
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Addressing questions regarding a report by the energy website MEES, which suggested the return of rights to these blocks by the end of January, Papanastasiou confirmed the licenses had expired. The exploration, he noted, revealed no promising natural gas prospects, prompting the decision not to renew.
The Minister called the expiry of the licenses a “natural development,” emphasizing that not every block within Cyprus’ EEZ is expected to contain viable resources.
The exploration rights for blocks 2, 3, and 9 were initially awarded in January 2013 to a consortium including Eni Cyprus and Kogas Cyprus. Total later joined the group. Despite extensive seismic surveys and deep exploratory drilling—reaching depths of 5,800 meters at Amathusa-1 and 5,485 meters at Onasagoras-1—no commercially viable gas was discovered. In Block 3, exploration was disrupted by interference from the Turkish Navy in 2018.
